BAKE AND TASTE
Mind Play, Methods, & Solutions
Grade Level(s): 2-Adult
Subject Area(s): Life Management
Reviewed by: Carrie Jacobs
Software Description
Bake and Taste is a practice program designed to drill students on measurements
and storing ingredients. The program begins with a main menu consisting of
options such as: Recipe Find Ingredients, Measure and Mix, Baking, Taste Test,
and What Went Wrong. Users start by selecting a recipe to work with and then
follow through on the other steps. The program helps students to practice
identifying where to find different ingredients in the kitchen and which pieces
of equipment are used to measure specific ingredients. A drawback of the
program is that the students have no choices in the games or the order in which
they do them. Once a student enters the program, he or she cannot quit or stray
from the planned route. A positive side of the program is that it tells
students whether the answer they gave is right or wrong and allows them a
chance to change their answer. Furthermore, the visual and oral qualities make
the program useable by different learners in the classroom. A special feature
is the graphics of a sink, refrigerator, and cabinets, which move when students
place ingredients in them.
Content Clarity
Bake
and Taste program is accurate and
complete for late elementary and middle school age students. The program might
be basic for a high school level class due to the moderate degree of challenge
in the recipe games. The program focuses on the aspect of following directions
and measurements of ingredients in a recipe. Bake and Taste is
easy to use, but the software offers no directions for some of the games. In
addition to offering practice, the software lets students create a recipe and
have it taste tested in the interactive school cafeteria for a review. Students
are told whether the recipe and game were or not the recipe was a success and
why.
Technical Quality
Bake
and Taste program is easy to
install but somewhat difficult to navigate. Installation requires some computer
knowledge and may be difficult to perform by students in the targeted age
group. The main menu is easy to use; however, the navigation system and toolbar
are confusing due to the lack of directions. There is no explanation of the
icons or programs available and no quit or help button. The program contains
interesting graphics, sounds, and special effects, which serve an educational
purpose. The graphics and sound are the prime motivating factors in the
program. For example, the baking screen allows students to pick the measuring
utensil they need to bake the recipe and, when chosen correctly, the ingredient
flows down the tube into the pan and into the oven to bake. The product then
moves on a conveyer belt to the student cafeteria to the interactive classroom.
As they are creating the recipe, students are also practicing finding
ingredients in the kitchen and using the correct equipment to measure
ingredients.
Use of Technology
Bake
and Taste makes adequate use of
the computer. It allows the student to learn about equipment and different
areas of the kitchen. The software also uses sounds and graphics to emphasis
the importance of following directions and using the right equipment in a
recipe. A downfall of the software is the inability to modify the software.
Once you enter the program, you are unable to modify or change routes without
quitting the entire program. Student tracking is possible through "The
What Went Wrong" feature, where the computer tells the student what went
wrong in the recipe-making process. This feature also allows the teacher to see
where a student needs extra help.
Role of Students
Students
can be empowered by this software. Once the use of the program is explained,
they can work through the program on their own and attempt the activities
available. The only real choice users have is the initial recipe that they will
be working with; besides that the computer follows its own regimen. The
projects in the program are on a drill and practice level. The software
producer recommends using the software individually, in small groups, or as a
whole class. I would recommend reviewing the software as a whole class before
students actually use it individually due to the lack of directions provided by
the program.
Role of Teacher
The
teacher should review with the whole class the program from start to finish to
explain directions. Moreover, the teacher should also review the pieces of
equipment that the students will see on the screen. Students will need
monitoring to ensure that they go through the recipe section correctly and
understand the different areas practiced. The teacher's guide has a trouble
shooting section, which is useful for understanding what needs reviewing with
the students beforehand and how to fix any problems that might occur in the
software.
Classroom Usage
The program is a good addition to the classroom for
practicing the concepts of following directions and measurement. All students
can successfully use the program and adaptations can be made to accommodate an
individual student's ability. The software parallels my curriculum and provides
for additional drill, allowing students to practice skills needed for preparing
recipes.
Critical Summary
Bake
and Taste is a good accompaniment to learning about
measurements and following a recipe direction. The program is beneficial with
the exceptions of a few details that need adjusting. The program can be
difficult to follow due to the lack of directions given throughout the game.
Furthermore, the inability to quit the game at anytime or chose a different
path to follow may make the program uninteresting for students who enjoy the
freedom of choosing different routes to explore. The program encourages
students to follow directions visually and to use the correct equipment in the
kitchen. Student imagination is not a necessary factor in the game;
organization is the main idea stressed.
Overall Rating (based on a scale of 1 to 10) 7 or 8
Explanation of Rating
The software is an interactive and provides an
educational way for students to be involved in following directions in a
recipe. This program guides the students through the entire process of choosing
a recipe to preparing it. The practice aspect of the program is accurate and
contains images and sounds that draw the students into learning about foods. I
found the program beneficial for additional practice and assessment of
students' abilities to follow directions.
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